Jiaogulan

Jiaogulan (Gynostemma pentaphyllum) is an herb from the family Cucurbitaceae (cucumber or gourd family) indigineous to the southern reaches of China. It is described by the local people as the immortality herb, as within the Guizho province, people who used the herb consistantly lived longer than those who do not drink Jiaogulan.

It was used as a natural sweetener in Japan and is known as an adaptogen and antioxidant. Due to its adaptogenic effects it is frequently refered to as "Southern Ginseng". Its adaptogenic constituents are known as gypenosides which are closely structurally related to the ginsenosides from the well known medicinal plant ginseng.

Jiaogulan is a vine hardy to USDA zone 8 in which it may grow as a short lived perenial, in lower zones it can be grown as an annual. The plant is dioecious, meaning each plant exists either as male or female, thus if seeds are desired both a male and female plant must be grown.

Baby Jiaogulan Plants